It's anticipated that about 25,000 people will surge into the picturesque valley at the base of Mount Currie, about 150 kilometres north of Vancouver, to rock out to 100 bands and comedians on six stages.

Attendees can camp within walking distance of the site or be shuttled in from nearby Whistler. Organizers hope early Thursday shows by Tragically Hip front man Gord Downie, with the Sadies, will further ease traffic and boost tourism.

In July 2008, local First Nations residents had their lawns, and sense of security, trampled over three days when 40,000 concert-goers squeezed into sacred territories normally inhabited by 2,400 people.

Pharrell Williams, of N.E.R.D., performs at the Pemberton Festival in Pemberton, B.C., on Sunday, July 27, 2008. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

Huka Entertainment has since pumped $18 million worth of infrastructure into the region, aspiring to revive the extravaganza that was previously mired in snarled traffic, out-of-control dust and putrid porta-potties.

This time, organizers have doubled the size of the site by leasing 40 hectares of the Lil'wat Nation's reserve lands.

They've built two kilometres of additional roads, installed a permanent irrigation system and spent months on a land-clearing project.

Traffic mitigation strategies are in place, six entrances have been built instead of two, and a pedestrian overpass has been erected over the highway.

RCMP will bring in extra officers from the Lower Mainland to patrol campers, a move that has been sanctioned by the Lil'wat's local tribal police.

Are you heading to the Permberton Music Festival? What's in your personal music festival survival kit? Tell us in the comments below.

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